Textile machine



Nov. 11, 1941. w. s. TANDLER 2,262,213

TEXTILE MACHINE Filed Sept. 11,, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE TOR MM 1 MA ATITORNEYS Nov. 11, 1941. w. 5. TANDLER 7 2,262,213

TEXTILE MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1931 6 Sheets-Shet 2 ,50 Z2 .5. 4H Q J ATTORNEYS w s. TANDLER TEXTILE momma File d Sept. 11 1937 Nov. 11,1941.

6 Sheets- Sheet Nov. 11, 1941. w. s. TANDLER 2,262,213

TEXTILE MACHINE Filed Sept. 11, 1957 e Sheets-Sheet '5 M l/imrm 240ml;

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 11, 1941 2,262,213 'rax'rnn Macmmi William S. Tandler, New York, N. Y., asslgnor to Lefier Patent Company, Inc., New York, N. Y.,

a corporation 01' New York 1 Application September 11, 1937, Serial No. 163,345

' 33 Claims. (01. 66-50) employed iii-connection with circular linittin g may produce a machines, and diflerent forms of embodiment of the invention, suitable for that purpose, will, ac-

cordingly, be describedin detail for purposes of explanation. It will be readily apparent, however, from the description, that the principles of the invention may be incorporated in other forms and may be applied in connection with machines of other types.

Circular knittingmachines as heretofore con 'structed have commonly included needles arranged in circular-series in a needle bed, and usually there are two sets of needles, those or one set being mountedvertically and those of the ot-her-sethoriabiitally. Patterned fabrics are produced on such machines either by knitting stitches of difierent kinds in the fabric or by using threads of difierent colors, and by controlling the action of the needles to produce the desired effects. Ordinarily, only the needles of one setare controlled,,ior example, the vertical needles, and the control is effected by a trick wheel for each thread feed, the wheel determining which of the needles will take part in the knitting of the thread so fed. Accordingly, whenevera change is to be made in the pattern, it is necessary to provide a new trick wheel arrangement, which is disadvantageous, and the use of such trick wheels is further objectionable since the character of the patterns that can be produced thereby is limited.

In order to avoid the disadvantages of employing such trick wheels in circular knitting machines, various forms of control mechanism have been proposed, in which the operation of the needles is controlled by electrical means. Thus, for example, machines have been disclosed. in which an electromagnet is provided for each needle of the machine, these electromagnets operat- "ing under the control of a pattern to determine which needles are to be active as the knitting progresses. While such machines are theoretically sound, they are unsatisfactory in practice be- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE cause of the large number of electromagnets re quired, the complexity of the connections, etc.

H The present invention is directed to the provision of a mechanism for controlling the operation of a textile machine having a plurality of elements to be selectively actuated, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior control devices, in that it operates more rapidly and with greater accuracy. The new device is operated electrically and in certain forms, it selects the elements to be actuated, while in others, it both selects and actuates the elements of the controlled machiner whengmployed in connection with a circular knitting machine; .the mechanism of the invention may include a rotary devicetaking the place of a trick wheel and having a plu-;

rality of selector members controlled by an electromechanical translating device, these members controlling the operation of the needles of a knitting machine of the usual construction. This form of the new mechanism is ordinarily used in connection with existing knitting machines.

When the principles of the invention are applied in the construction of new knitting machines, the

rotary device may be employed or it may be eliminated, and, in the latter event,- the electromechanical device operates directly on the needle jacks. In order that the action of the control mechanism may be rapid and reliable in a ma chine of the latter type, the needle jacks employed are of novel construction, being light in weight and-working with little friction. Jilso a complete knitting machine embodyin'gthe principles of the invention'm'ay be so constructed thatthejack'fihay be segregated into a given number of groups by a less number of electromagnetic devices, this arrangement making it possible for one device to control the needles so as to knit one color in the design, while a second device controls the needles in the knitting oi the second color, etc. The last group of needles then knits the ground color of the pattern. The complete knitting machine of theinvention includes numerous other features of novelty,

which may be used to advantage with ordinary trick wheel control, so that the invention may be considered to comprehend both a novel knitting machine and a novel control mechanism which may be employed either separately or in conjunction.

' Fora better understanding of the invention,

reference may be had to the accompanying drawing's, in which the form or the mam-mwhieh-the te -ms- Figur'es5 and '6 are sectional'fviews A of'a knitting machine constructed in accordance with the invention: I r g Figures 8 and 9 are plan and side elevational 15 :to upright'position by suitable means in readiness views, respectively, of a support employed in the machine'ofFigureh trol mechanism is of the rotary device type;

Figure 2 is a view, partly in plan'andipartly in section}, or the mechanism illustratedin 1, Y the pattern and scanning mechanism being shown I diagrammatically; 1v Y y I Figures 3 and are plan and" 'side. viewsire spectively, oiE a support employed in 'nism illustrated in Figure 2;

lines.5-5 and,.'66, respectively, ofFigure -1; I

Figure 7 is avertical sectional view of a pa Figure 10 is' a viewipa themechaon; the 10 insideelelation. and

I .partly in vertical section, illustrating a'kiiitting machine constructed in accordance with theprins ciples of the invention, together with the pattern 5 mechanism .used with the control mechanism of :the machine; a

Figures 11 and l2 are plan and sideelevational Figure. 17 "is a vertical sec r Figure 18 is a planuview, withparts removed, 3 w of the machine. illustrated in Figure 17.

views, respectively, of a support employed-in the 5 I tional viewshowing so, anotherforn 'of knitting machine constructed in I accordance'with" the invention; and

In that form of the apparatus illustrated arr- 351 I =Figures'l to 6, inclusive; the knitting machine.

.4 T buttlZ resting on the head 23 of a jack 24, which I .ring 28 encircling the'cylinder 2|;and between -its ends, the jack is provided with alug 23; e The 4 30 tween the tracks 43, 44 isarib which extends.

includes a series-of vertical needles 20 is mounted in -ttieneedlv'slohandis supported at its lower end on a flange 25 integral wi cylnder ,2l, 'The' head 23 has adownward 'eittension 26 adapted to engage a stationary cam II needle bed iss'u'pportedbil having its flange 25 I rest ona stationary support 30 and the is indotted lines in Figure 1, is raised to take part Y in the knitting operation at the appropriate 'time whose jackjis' -in l vertical position, indicated -38, and is thereafter moved back-to itspositionby any suitable means, such as a-carn (not shown).. Those needlesgwhose jacks have] I I rib 48, depending upon.

' been moved out ,from' above the cam ring remain partin the knitting operation is eflected, by a inactive. I

The selectionof needles which are "to take mechanismwhich includes a cylinder 33 supported for rotation on a vertical axis in any suit! '05 mains in such a'positidn that-its point traverses iable .way and provided-wth a girth gear 33, the teeth of which mesh with-the gear 3| onthe needle bed, The cylinder 32 is provided with a plurality of vertical slots 34 in its pe'riphery, in

10 the right in Figure 1; and in its upward movewhich are mounted -selector members-made in 1 two parts designated 35,38, respectively. The

Y with an inwardly extending lug 3], which may 75 upper part 35 of eachselector member is formed ing' an enlarged free end lll; -When the up'p er I not elevatedduring' the rotation o f.the.needle bed part in the knitting.

' membertoeffective position accomplished by rest on the 'lowersurface 33 ora circumferential recess in the face of the'cylindergand the meme her also has an outwardly projecting lug 33. havpart 35 of. a selector member in elevated position,'as illustrated at 35a, the rotation of cylinder 32 brings the lug 39 on the member into contact with the-lug 29 on oneof the "needle I jacks, and thejackis therebymoved to aninclined' position. in itsslot so'ithat its extension 26 is free of the cam ring.- The jack is,lthe'reiore,

and its needle-doesnot take part in-the -knitting operation, .The needle jack sfo' movedis returned ,i

forthe nextselecting operation; and, ifat time the' upperpart ii o Lthe-selec r memberremains in its lower'position, the lug 39 of'the control member passes beneath 'lug 29, on'the jack so that the jack remains upright, The jack is' then raised by the cam and it's needle takes n The raising of e upper part of, a selector the OD fatiQn -of-the associated-lower part 36.0f the member. The lower part 35-is apiece-0t sheet metal generally I triangular in' shape, -but ;with .a curved base portion ,and it is mounted I apex down in the groove 3.4 in cylinder 32.:be1ow its associatedjupper part. Since this upper part is-thicker than the lower part ,of the control member, I the g'ro ov .e at sections, the I upper section being wider-than the lower s flour- The upper part '35 of each controlmember is thus supported both by its lug 3'! and-by its lower end resting upon the shculders'f infthe-groove formed by the decrease in thewidthof the latter.

The lower parts 36 ofthe selector members are supported, on a circular stationary support 42, in the upper sur face of which-are forme two tracks .43, M. 'I 'hese 'tracksflarengenerally c'oncentric,*but merge at the pointii on opposite sides of which the inner and outer walls of track "4.! have cam surfaces a, ilk-respectively; Thet a' -outer track 43 projects up.-'.

wardly above the plane of su port a considerable I, I distanc'e, and this top forms a cam surface pro videdwith -a dip 41 which lies opposite the point where the inner and outer tracks merge. Be-

upwardly above the bottoms of thetracks a sub- I stantial' g q The pointed end 3101? the lower part 35 01? each selector member lies within one or the other 5 of the; tracks 43', 44 asthecylindenflrotates; At- ;mtlgpgint liwhe're the tracks merge, the part36 rests upon its point'which iseincontactwiththe .bythe elevation of itsiack bya campn-thering a bottom of themerged tracks, butelsewhere,the.

l .part3l'iis supported by means or 9. lug 53; which I 01' extends outwardly a' short distance: above the point 49, and'rest either on-the-flange 45 or-the i the tree]; in'which the point-l9 is'moving. V

If, as the'cylinde'r 3lrotates; the part 36 rethe track 43, the 1114; 5!! will overhang the flange 45 and willmove down onev side of the dip 41 in the; cam'flange 46 and up the other. The part 36 will thus be elevated to the position shown at ment', the'part'will raise-its associated part 35 to the elevated position, indicated at'iia, so that" I the latter will act on one oi the'ne'edle-jacks and move that jackaway f rOni 'the camring-n, so, that its associated needle remains idle, If; at the point 45, the lower part 36 of a selector member is moved inward so that its point traverses the inner track 44, the lug will'ride upon the rib 48 and hold the part 36 with its point out of con- When the circuit through the pattern sheet is open by reason of the roller 62 contacting with a non-conductive area on the sheet, electromagnet 55b is energized and the lever 52 is swung tact with the bottom of the track 44, but the 5 to inoperative position. The selector member part 36 will not be raised sufliciently to elevate its corresponding part 35 into effective positionn' Then, as the cylinder 32 rotates, the lug 33 of the part 35 in lower position will not engage a needle parts which pass the stud while the lever is inoperative, traverse the outer track 43 so that they are raised and their selector members act on needle jacks to render needles ineifective. After jack 24,.and the Jack will be elevated by the cam the selector members have been selected by the 23 and will move its needle to take part in the knitting operation. Accordingly, movement of the part 36 of a selector member with its point traversing the outer track 43 in support. 42 will electromagnetically operated hammer, the members pass about the support 42, and just before they reach the point 45, all the lower parts 36 of the members are moved out into the outer render a needle of the knitting machine ineifectrack in readiness for the next selecting action tive, while movement of the part with its point traversing the inner track 44 will permit a needle to take part in the knitting.

The operation of the selector members as deof' the electromagnetic means.

The electromagnets and lever thus constitute an electromechanical translating device operated under the control of the pattern and acting to scribed is controlled by an electromechanical '2 control the action of the selector members, which translating device generally designated 5|. This device may take various forms, but, in the construction illustrated, it includes a hammer lever 52 having a stud 53 at one end, the lever being in turn determine the operation of the needles. By forming the selector members in two parts, the lower parts which are acted on by the device 5| may be made of small size and light in weight,

pivoted on a suitable support 54 so that its ends so that these parts may be readily shifted by the overhang a pair of electromagnets 55a, 55b. These electromagnets are supplied with current through lines 56, 51, respectively, leading from anamplifier 58 of standard construction supplied device in accordance with variations in the pattern. Also, by forming the tracks 43, 44 with walls of the proper shape at the point 45, the hammer 52 need strike only a light blow to efwith current from a source of power through feet selection.' As the lower parts, which are dilines 55. The supply of current from the amplirectly acted onbythehammer, are light and rest her to the electromagnets is controlled by a pak/ontheii po ints at the time that selection is taking tern mechanism, which may take yaiiodsioims,

but includes apatternisheet 'carrying a representation 'o'fthe pattern and scanning means,

which is responsive to variations in the pattern and controls the supply of current from the amplifier.

In the construction illustrated, the scanning I, is done by direct contact method, and the pattern-takes the form of a sheet 66 of electro-conductive material carrying a representation of the design in which the figures and ground are, re-

. spectively, electro-conductive and non-conductive, or vice versa. The sheet is mounted on a cylinder 6! of electro-conductive material, which is rotated by suitable means in timed relation to the progress of the knitting operation, and the scanning means takes the form of a roller 62 of electro-conductive material mounted in a moving support, so that the roller traverses the pattern sheet as the latter is rotated. The roller is connected to the amplifier by a line 63 and the cylinder is connected to the amplifier by a line 64 and a brush 65, which bears against a portion of the cylinder With the'arrangement described, current flows through the circuit 58, 63, 62, 66, 6!, 65', 64, whenever the roller is in contact with an electroconductive area on the sheet, and when the circuit thus is closed, amplified current is supplied from the amplifier to one of the electromagnets, for example, that designated 55a. Upon energization, the electromagnet attracts the lever 52 so that it swings on its pivot to a position in which. its stud 53 strikes the lug 50 of the selector member part lying opposite the stud at that instant. The part is thereby shifted so that its point enters the inner track 44, and the selector member remains ineffective and does not act on a needle jack. If the electro-conductive area on the sheet is of substantial extent, the lever 52 may remain in operative position while several selector member parts pass by the stud, and in that case, the stud cams the parts inward.

place, the electromechanical device can be operated rapidly and the knitting machine can be operated at a correspondingly high speed.

The control mechanism, illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, is suitable for use in connection with a knitting machine of conventional construction, but when a complete knitting machine incorporating the principles of the invention is to be built, it is possible to avoid the use of a separate rotary control device, resembling a trick wheel, and to have the electromechanical device act directly on the jacks of the needles to be con- 5 trolled, which may be either those in the vertical or horizontal circular series, or both.- A machine of the type described in which the vertical needles are controlled is illustrated in Figures '7 to 16, inclusive, and the knitting machine shown in these figures includes a cylinder 66 supported by any suitable means not shown and driven by means of a girth gear 61. This cylinder is provided with a plurality of vertical slots in its outer surface, each of which contains a needle 68 and a v two-part jack. The butt of the needle rests on the upper jack part 69 which has a lug Ill received in a circumferential recess II in the outer wall of the cylinder. The lower jack part 12, used for selecting purposes, has a shape similar to the selector member part 36 previously described.

The member 12 has a point I3 which traverses one or the other of a pair of tracks l4, 15, in a stationary supporting ring 16 encircling the cylinder and supported in any suitable manner.

65 These tracks merge at the point IT, on opposite sides of which the inner and outer walls of track 15 are provided with cam surfaces 15a, 15b. The outer wall 78 of the outer track 14 is provided with a cam consisting of a dip 19a and a projec- 70 tion 1% to the rear of the point 11. Between the the flange 1.8 or the rib of the support 16. At

members I2, I a

In the operation of-this form of the-mechanism, as thecylinder 66 rotates, the translating device and selector members 12 are brought sue-. cessively'into cooperating relation, and thede ,Vice operates under the control of the pattern the point 1 'I is mo'unte'dan electromechanical translating device similar to the device pre'vi jou'sly described and i'ncludingalever 82 with a stud 83 adapted to engage the lugs8| of selected to move selected-members so that their points traverse either "the outer track '14 orthe inner track I5- onnthe support I6. 1 The members shifted by the device are raised ofi their points as the cylinder rotates and are supported by their lugs 8| resting on top of theirib 80,-but the members do not move .upfar enough to afi'ect thejacksfifl. not shifted-by the device, remain in outerposi-I "tionso that their lugs '81 pass up over the cam projection 'I9b. The members thus raisedforce their associated jacks 69-.upwardly, and this take part in the knitting operation.

'It will be noted,'that the construction illustrated in Figure '7 closely resembles that" shown in Figure 1, but is considerably' simpler in. that the upper part 6 9 of each selector member serves Thosemembers, which are -.2,2ea,2 1 a W knittingthe ground color. Such' 'a construction s illustrated in Fi u es 10m is, inclusive; The machine illustrated in Figure-'10 includes the usual cylindrical: needle bed84 mounted in the usual manner and rotated 'byimeans of a girth: gear 85' meshingfwith a pinion '85 on a I driveshaft 81, the needle bed-having vertical slots 88in its outer surface containing needles 89. Each needle has anassociated selecting and V actuating member made up of an upper part 90,

"which for' convenience, maybe referred to as the actuator; and'a lower part 9i, which may be referredto as the selector, vBoth the actu-' 'ators and-selectors are of sheet-metal, the se- I lectorsbeing --thinner and .having enlarged. roundedheadsfl, and each-slot 88 hasa curved portion 88c1rin'nitsgrearewali whicirfunderliesthe head 92' of .the selector and helpssupport causes the-needles acted-on by those ducks to 'thelatter, Each 'selectorhas a p'oint93 which traverses tracks i'n'a ring support SG-mountedin any suitable manner to-encircle the cylinderv fl l-and atone side of thepoint, the SGIBCtOK' Ll'Q-ESQ- 'afia't end portion 95. I The; support 94 is provided with three tracks I whichmerge through a stretch .96 and at the end of this stretch is 'anelectromechanical se lecting device 91 including a-'movab le' member a 98 with a stud 99. As the selectors 9I come into also as the needle jack, and the selector mem-'-= bers bothselect' the needles and actuate them. In the Figure 1 construction, the upper part of ing action withrespec't' to the needle jacks" of needles is performed bythe 'usual cam means.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 1, the

' cylinder 32 and its associated parts perform the ordinary functions of a trick wheel, and one such cylinder will be provided for each thread sup plied to the needles. ,The mechanism is superior to an ordinary trick wheel, however, in that it is not limited to the reproduction of a single pattern,'and no change is required in the mechanism when the knitting machine is shifted from the production of one pattern to another..

In the apparatus illustrated in Figure 7,,the'

pattern mechanism, including/the electromeeach selector member merely performs a select- I thekn'itting machine, and the actuation ofthe registry-with the stud, thedevice isactuated accordance. with the pattern to shift certain of the selectors so that their points engage a cam surface I00aand enter an inner track I00, while,

the points of those which havevnot been shifted move along the 'outer track IOI. Between the. tracks is a. rib I02 which is provided-ewitha cam hump I03 just beyond the device 91, andthe' flat end portions 95 of the selectors, which-move along the outer track IOI, ride up the hump so that the actuators associated with the selectors elevate their, needles to take part inthe knitting operation; Beyond the huiflp HB, the track chanical translating device and the pattern scanning means, takes'the place of a trickwheel and again the mechanism is superior to an ordinary-trick wheel in' that it is not limited to. the reproduction-"of a single pattern. If this apparatus is to be used in the knitting of "a fabric containing threads of several colors or stitches of several kinds a plurality of electromechanical devices, one for each of the threads, will be provided, and in that event, the tracks von the support-16 will merge, asat the point", in front 'of each'of the devices. Also, thevflange- I8 will 'be provided with a corresponding number of cam-portions,l9a,19b

The mechanism of the invention makes it pos-. 7

sible to control the operation of the knitting machine in the production of a fabric having a plurality of colors or types of stitch in the design and a ground "without using anelectromechanical device and its associated pattern mechanism for the control of the knitting of the ground; Thus, for example, such a form of the apparatus to be used -inthe knitting; of a a fabric containing two colors in the design and a ground color, the needles are segregated into three groups, the first containing those knitting one color, the second containing those'iknitting the second colonand the V tion, move alongshelf l I-I',

The selectors which have been shifted by both I0,I leadsto a shelf I04 and as the points of the selectors move alongthe track I0 I, the

selectors are turned. to the-horizontal position. indicated in Figure 15 and 'in' thatposition,

move along the shelf.

' The selectors whi h have been shifted by the device 9'! and whose points traverse 'the trackf I00, advance 'alongthe track to the'point I05,

wherea second electromechanical device 'I06Ji's Y mounted beneath the shelf I04.-

device acts on certain selectors to shiftthem so that their points engage a cam surface I0'la and'enter aninner track I01, whilethose-which have not; been shifted. move along an outer track I08. Between the tracks is a'rih I09 with acam hump I III and the selectors which traverse the outer track I08 are'raised by'contact of, their'f flat ends with the hump andtheir associated 7 devices9'l, I06 continue along the. track i01, and

the inner wall of the track provided with a I rib H2 on which the flat ends of the selectors slide, This rib is provided with .a cam hump' I13. and as the flat ends of the selectors ride up the hump, their associated actuators areeleya'ted and their needles moved into knitting position:

third containing those Beyond the hump l I3, the shelf I I has adowndevice 91 for the next selecting operation.

' I04 and its continuation III, are brought back into the stretch of the track 96. All the selectors are then in position to be presented again to the The operation of the mechanism describe permits the needles to be selectively operated in accordance with the requirements of a pattern which contains two colors in the design and a ground color. Thus, for example, the needles of the selectors, which are not shifted by the device 91 and therefore proceed along the track IOI, may knit one color in the design, while the needles of the selectors which are not shifted by the device I06 may knit the second color in the design. The needles of the remaining selectors which have been shifted by both devices then knit the ground color, all of these needles being moved in a knitting position as their selectors are elevated by the cam hump II3. By the use ofthe three tracks I00, IN, and I08, and the shelf I04, III, the selectors whose needles have taken part in the knitting operation are removed from action, so that they do not interfere with operation of the second electromechanical device and are not raised by the cam I I3.

The devices 91 and I06 are actuated in accordance with the requirement of different colors in the figures of the design, and the supplying of current to the devices may be accomplished by various means, one form of such control mechanism being illustrated in Figure 10. Inthis construction, a pattern drum H5 is mounted on a vertical shaft II6 provided with a. gear II1 meshing with a pinion II8 on the drive shaft 81, the shaft II6 being supported in suitable bearings above the main body of the knitting machine. The drum I I5 lies within a frame including top and bottom members II9, I20, in which are journalled pairs of screws I2Ia, I2Ib, I22a, and I22b. As these pairs of screws are driven by similar means, the drive for one pair only,

namely, screws I2Ia, I2Ib, will be described in detail.

The screws I 2 la, I2 II) are of opposite pitch and each screw is provided at its upper end with a worm gear I23 with which meshes a pinion I24 on a shaft I25, the pinions' I24 being on opposite sides of the gears I23. The shaft I25 extends into a housing I26 within which are beveled gears I21 mounted loose on the shaft but held against endwise movement, and gears I21 mesh with a beveled gear I28 on a vertical shaft I29 journalled in the top wall of the housing and carrying a sprocket wheel I30 outside the housing, which is driven by a chain I3I from a rent is supplied from amplifier I through lines I43 to the electromechanical translating device 91. This device may be similar to the device 5|, if desired, but in the construction illustrated, the device 91 includes a single electromagnet or a pair of electromagnets operating in unison and the armature I44 is provided with a rod I45, on the end of wihch is mounted the stud 99. A spring I46 encircling the rod tends to hold the armature in a position in which the stud is out of contact with selectors 9| and, whenever current from the amplifier is supplied to the device, the armature is moved to a position in which the stud strikes a selector.

The second electromechanical device I06 is supplied with amplified current through lines I46a from amplifier I41 which receives current through the lines I42, and supplies itto the device I06 under the controlof a second scanning device, generally designated I48. This device includes a carriage mounted on screws I22a and H21), and is similar to the device mounted on screws I2Ia and I2Ib, but scans a second pattern sheet I49 mounted on cylinder I I5. y In the operation of the apparatus, the carriages of the two scanning devices are started at the upper ends of the screws, and as the knitting operation progresses and the pattern drum 5 rotates, the two carriages are moved down by their screws. During this movement, the two pattern sheets are scanned and current is supplied to the devices 91, H6, in accordance with the requirements of the representations of the pattern on the sheets. When-the scanning of the sheets has been completed during the downward movement of the carriage I34, the carriage engages an arm I49a pivoted in the support I50,

its downward movement. The arm I ISa'is connected by a link I52 to one arm I53 of a bell crank, pivotally mounted'in a support I54 depending from the top plate II9, the other arm I55 of the bell crank being connected to the clutch I33. When the carriage I34 moves the arm I49a downward, the bell crank is swung to sprocket wheel I32 on the shaft HE. A clutch I33 is mounted on the shaft I25 between the gears I21 and this clutch is splined-to the shaft and may be shifted to engage one or the other of the gears I21 and connect that gear fast to the shaft I25 so that the shaft is then driven.

a passage I38 in the carriage I34 upon a photoelectric cell I39. The cell is connected by lines i40 to an amplifier I4I supplied with current from a source of power through lines I42 and, under the control of the cell I39, amplified curof screws H211 and I221). The link I59 carries an arm I62 with a contact screw I63, which is shift the clutch fromone to the other of the gears I21. This reverses the direction of rotation of the screws and causes the carriage to start upward. The upward movement of the carriage is then reversed by engagement of the top of the carriage with contact screw I56 on the arm I53.

The movement of the carriage of the scanningmechanism I48 is reversed in the same manner and by similar mechanism, including an arm I51 pivoted on a support I58 on the bottom plate I20 and connected by a link I59 to a bell crank I60 pivotally mounted in a support I60a depending from the top plate II9. Movement of the bell crank controls the operation of the clutch I6I, which in turn controls the rotation engaged by the carriage of the scanning device I48 at the end of its upward movement and reverses the direction of travel of the carriage.

The mechanism illustrated in Figure 10 controls the operation of the two electromechanical translating devices 91, I06, and the scanning devices respond to representations of. the pattern suitable for controlling the knitting of a fabric in which there are two colors in the figures of the design and a ground color. As the needles in the knitting. a a The pattern sheets I31, I 49 havebeen represented, for purposes of explanation,'ina form- I which willproduce a simple pattern, the figure of which is a triangle I65 of the first color in-= the device 91, carries a representation ,of-those.

parts of the design'figures which are to be of the first color,-the figures appearing. on the sheet on acontrastingbackground. ,Thus, the figures on sheet I49 may be non-reflecting and .the background reflecting, orfl-the reverse arrangement may be employed, depending onthe electrical connections, etc. For example, if thejscanner causes current to besupplied to the device 91'- whenscanning a reflecting portion of the pat-' tern sheet, the figures to be knit of the firstcolorwill be non-reflecting, for example, black, since those needles whose jacks are not shifted by the device 97 take part in the knitting of yarn of the first color. Similarly, thesheet I3! controlling the device I00 will carry a representation in nonrefiecting areas of those parts of ,thedesign fig- ;ures which are to be knit of yarn of the second color.

If the electrical connectionswere such that scanner caused'current m be supplied to its as{ sociated translating device when scanning a nonreflecting portion ofthe patt'ern,the coloring of the pattern sheets would be reversed.

Also, the coloring of the pattern sheets would be reversed if the knitting mechanism were one in which the needles whose jacks were shifted by the translating devices-were the ones taking part scribed within a circular area I64 of the second color. When the triangle I65 passes by the scanner. I48, the translating'devices B'I will shift the jacksof all needles except' those which will shifted ,will be raised by the cam I03 to cause Y their. needles to take part in the knitting action and then swung to inoperative position to move along the shelf I04. After 120 of travel of the those which would knit the figure. The Jacks V ofsome-of the needles which would "knit the circular figure have, howeverfalready been seing device I06 is no longer effective with respect to them. ,Asa result-the device I06 causes only those needles to take part inthe knitting'of the thread from the second supply which willxproa duce stitches within thecircular outline but out- 2,262,213 selected by the device'91Iknit'.stitches' of yarnfi ofthe first color in .the design figures, the pat- .ter n sheet I49, which-.controlsth'e operation of sheetsrelati've to one-another, a finished fabric may beformed in whichrthe-triangle and circle of the first and second colors, respectively, are a separate and distinct and. spaced in accordance with their relativepositions on the drum.

' When the pattern mechanism described-is used with a knitting machine of the construction shown inFigu're 10, it is possible toproduce a fabric having a design which includes two difthose parts of the design to be formed of stitches of thread of one color. I represented on the sheet, either in reflecting or.

non-reflecting colors, depending upon the 'elec-u trical connectionsandfthe construction of the knitting machine, as previously set forth.

With a pattern sheet for each feed, itis necessary that the portions of the. patterns of the sheets be exactly matched and the sheets mount-j ed accurately on. the drum. If this is not done,

certain needles which ought toform stitches may. beleft out ofoperation or needles may-be operated whentheyshould be idle; In either event, defects appear on the fabric. Accordingly, whena pattern sheet,.its associated scanner and translating device is provided for each in-: I dividual feed, defects arising from the necessity of accuracy in preparing the pattern sheets and mounting them on the drum are encountered.-

With the construction illustrated in Figure -10, these defects are largely avoided, and the mechanism is simpler in that one less pattern sheet,

knit the triangle, and the jacks which are not scanner, and translating device are required, and, in addition, it isimpossible to cause a needle 4 -'which has been brought'into action with, respect {to one threadto knit stitches of another thread.

With the construction illustrated in Figure 10,

the pattern sheets are endless and the scanning vpatterndrum, the circle IE4 will pass in front of the scanner I34 and the translating device I06 will shift the jacks of all the needles except 1 lectedby the device 91, andac cordingly, have" been moved to a position in which the translatside the triangle." All of those needles. which have not taken part in the knitting of the circleand triangle are then caused to take part'in the knitting. operation by the action of the cam IlI3 and they produce the background of the yarn of the third color fed'from the third supply.

Thepattern sheets illustrated are so. mounted upon the pattern drum that the triangle is ma 'scribed'within a circle but by shifting the sheets relative to the drum, other designs can be produced by the same sheets. Thus, if the pattern sheets are shifted angularly relative to one' another so that only parts of the-triangle and circle are in vertical alignment, the resultant figure in the design willinelu-de a complete triangle and as much of the circle'as is not overlapped by the triangle. By h-a-further shifting of thepattern l previously explained, the pattern control is'continuous, but if desirecL'the scanning may be stopped when each sheet has been traversedfrom topto bottomand the operation started over I again by the scanning devices being restored manually to the upperend of each sheet. With continuous scanning by the. mechanism described,

there maybe differences in the pattern produced in the fabric by 'reasonof the scanningstarting first from one side and then from the other.

With certain patterns this. will make no difference, but with others-itwill be desirable to start the scanning always from the same side of the sheet, and in that case, the scanning with the .mechanism disclosed is not carried on continuously, but the scanningdevice is restored to the starting point on each sheet after the sheet has' been completely scanned.

mechanism of the invention may be employed for controlling either the vertical or horizontal needles in a circular knitting machine, and in Figures .17 and 18 areillustrated portions of a circular knitting machine, in 'which the needles of the horizontal series are controlled.

The mechanism referred to includes a needle a bed I66 of ring form, having slots I6ldisposed radially. The needle bed is mounted on a suitable support I68 above the ordinary cylindrical rotating, needle bed of the machine,.in which there are mounted thevertical needles I69, and

Suchdesignparts are I bed I81 is a. plate I12, having a pair of tracks I13, I14 in its upper surface, these tracks merging throughout most of their length. Selector and actuator members I 15, each of which is made of thin sheet metal, rest on edge on the plate I12, and each member I15 has a downwardly extending lug I18 which enters the tracks I13 or I14.

At one end, each member is provided with an enlarged head I11, and at the other it has a foot I18 extending upwardly. The members I15 are disposed in radial slots in a disc I19 resting on the plate I12, and the disc has a central hub I80 extending through an opening in the plate I12 and provided with a gear I8I meshing with the internal gear I8Ia on the needle bed I86. A plate I82 rests on top of the members I15 to hold them against upward movement from the slots in disc I19.

Mounted on the plate I82 is an electromechanical translating device, generally designated I83 and of the same general construction as the device 5|. tromagnets I84a, I84b supplied with current from an amplifier under the control of a pattern scanning mechanism, and the electromagnets operate a pivotally mounted lever I85 provided with a stud I88 in position to engage the tails I18 of members I15. Mounted in radial slots in the needle bed, I86 are needles I81 provided with lateral projections I88 and a cam I89 is disposed above the needle bed in position to engage the projections of needles which have been forced I outwardly in the slots to take part in the knitting operation.

In the operation of the device illustrated in Figures 17 and 18, as the needle bed I66 revolves, it causes rotation of the disc I19 so that the selector and actuator members I15 are brought successively into cooperating relation with the stud I88 of the lever of the device I83. When- The device I83 includes a pair of elecpens that the pattern being reproduced has figures such that several consecutive needles are to take part in the knitting operation. When that occurs, the electromechanical translating device remains in operative position while a plurality of selector members pass before it. These mem-' bars are then shifted by the cam action of the stud of the device, the stud having a suitable shape for the purpose.

In the foregoing, different forms of apparatus embodying the principles of the invention have been described, in which the selector members are moved relative to a stationary support provided with cam means and are brought successively into cooperative relation with the electromechanical translating device. It will be understood, however, that the relative movements ofthe members and device, of the members and cam means,and of the members and tracks can be as well achieved by moving the device, cam means, and tracks relative to the members. Various other changes in the apparatus, which do not involve any departure from the invention,

ever the device I83 operates in response to the pattern to swing the lower end of the lever outward, the stud engagesthe tail I18 of the member in front of it at that instant, and shifts the member outward so that its lug I16 enters the track I14. The track has an inner wall I14a forming a cam surface and as the disc I19 con-goo -tinues to rotate,the engagement of lug I15 with the cam surface moves the member I15 outward and its enlarged end I11 engages va needle in a slot in the needle bed I85 and advances th s needle into knitting position. As thedisc I19 I continues to rotate, the selector and actuator member I15 is moved back by a cam surface I141), on the outer wall of the track I14, until its lug enters the track I13 and the member remains in this position until it is brought again into cooperating relation with the stud and the lever of the device I83. Each needle which has thus been advanced to knitting position is then restored to its initial position by engagement of the cam plate I89 with the projection I88 on the needle.

The selector and actuator members, which are not shifted outward by the action of that device I83, continue around the plate I12 and do not engage corresponding needles in the needle bed In the operation of the difierent ,forms of the apparatus of the invention, it occasionally hap- I will also suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. In a textile machine having a plurality of elements, the operation of whichds to be controlled, the combination of a plurality of selector members arranged in a circular series, a support for the members having channeled tracks which portions of the members engage, an electromechanical translating device operable to strike andshift members relative to the support and thereby segregate the members into two groups, means moving the members of one group and causing them to control the operationof corresponding elements, and means for eiIecting relative movements of the support and members, during which said portions traverse, the tracks, and of themembers and device, during which the latter come successively into cooperative relation.

2. In a textile machine having a plurality of elements, the operation of which'is to be controlled, the combination of a plurality of selector members arranged in a circular series, a support for the members having tracks which pore tions of the members engage, an electromechanical translating device operableto strike and shift members relative to the support: said device moving the portion of each member struck from one track to another and thereby segregating the members into two groups, means moving the members of one group and causing them to control the operation of corresponding elements, and means for effecting relative movements of the support and members, during which said portions traverse the tracks, and of the members and device, during which the latter come successively into cooperative relation.

3. In a textile machine, the combination of a plurality of elements, the operation of which is to be controlled, a plurality of selector members,

the elements and members being arranged in bers into two groups traversing different tracks,

means for moving the members of one group and causing them to control the operation of corresponding elements, and means for effecting relative movements of the supports and members, during which said portions traverse the tracks,

and of the-members device, during which latter come. successively into cooperative relathe tioni e .4, In a-txtile machinehaving .pluralityof 1 j elements, the operation of which "iSftO: becontrolled,'thecon binationlof a plurality of selle'c tor members arranged'in'a circular series, a support for the members having channeled tracks which portions of-the members engage, 'adevice operable to. strike and shift the members relativeto' thefsupport and thereby-segregate the trol the operation of corresponding elements,

" means-for efiecting' relativejmovements ,of the support-and members, during which said porsively'into. cooperative relation, and means for controlling the operation of the device including a pattern and means for scanning the pattern. v

-5. In a textile machine, the combination of a members into two groups, means moving-the :im'embersof one group and causing them toconlation, and" mechanism for controlling the op- 'eration of the device-including apattern and means for scanning the .pattem;

'8. Inc. circular knitting machine, the combination of a plurality of needles. arranged in a circular series and movable'endwise, a pluralityv of selector members jarranged in a circular series and movable to, cause corresponding needles to take part in the knitting operation, a support for the'm'embe'rs having channeled tracks which'porv tions traverse thetracks, and of themembers and device, during which the latter come succes pluralityoi elements, the operation of rlhich is to'be controlled, a plurality of selectormembers,

the elements land membersbeing' arranged in circular series with the members aligned with respective elements, a support for the members f v I having channeled-tracks 'which' portions ofthe members engage, a -device operable to strike and shift me'mbers relative to the support and there-' by segregate the members into two groups, means for moving the membersjof one group and causing them to engage and'move their respective elements, means for eifecting relative movements of the.support'and members, during which-said portions traverse the tracks,'and of the members and device, during which the. latter come successively into cooperative relation, and means for controlling the operation of said device inclu'ding a pattern and meansfor scanningthe pattern.

6. In a textile machine, the combination of a plurality of-elements,theoperation of which is to be controlled-,a plurality of selectormembers, v 'the elements and-membersbeing arranged fin circular series 'with the, members aligned with respective elements, "a. support for the 'members having tracks which portions of the members engage; a device operable to strike and shift members relative to the support 'and' thereby, segregate the' members into two groups, means on the support adjacent one track for engaging thememberstraversing saidjtrack and moving the members and their 'respectiveelements, means for effecting relative movementsoi the support and members, during which said portions -traverse thetracks and the members=of one groupare engaged by the moving. means, and of the meme .bers and device,- during which the latter comes successively into cooperative relation, and mechanisrn for controlling the operation of the. de-

' vice including a pattern and means for scanning the pattern;

7. In a textile machine having a plurality of 1 elements arranged in acircular series in slots in i a=carrier, the-combination of -a plurality of selector members arranged in circular series in alignment with respective elements, a support for the members having tracks which "portions of the shift members relative to the support and thereby segregate thememb'ers into two'groupstraversing different-tracks; 'means'for moving the members of one group and'causingthem to move f their corresponding elements, means for effecting a relative movements oi the support and members,

0 members of one group and causing them to move tions of the members engage, a device operable to strike andshiit members relative to the support and thereby segregate the members into'two groupslmeans for moving the members oione group and causing them to move correspondingneedles into knitting position, meansfor efiecting relative movements of the support and members,

during which said'portions traverse the tracks,

andflof the members and device-during which the latter come successivelyinto cooperative re-,

lation, and mechanism for controlling the operation of the device including a pattern and means for scanning the pattern.

- 9'. In a circular knitting machine, the com bination ofa needle bed, a plurality of needles arranged in a circular series on said bed and movable endwise, a plurality of selector members mounte'd'in a circular series on said bed and movable to cause corresponding needles to take part in the knitting operatioma suppor for the members having channeled tracks which portions 7 of the members engage, a device operable to a strike and shift members. relative to the support and thereby segregate the'members into two j groups, cam means for moving the members'of one group and causing them to 'move 'corresponding needles into knitting position, means for rotating the needle bed relative to the support to v cause the members to traverse the tracks and to J come successively into cooperative relation with said device, and means for controlling the, opera tlon of the device including a pattern and means for scanning the pattern.

10. Ina circular knitting machine, the'combination oi'a cylindrical needle bed having 'ver-'* 'tical slotsin the surface thereof, a needle in each of said slots movable endwise; a. plurality of selec tor members arranged in a circular series, each memberlyin-g within-one of the slots, a support on which the selector members rest, said support having channeled tracks which portions of the members engage, 'a device operable to engage members andshift-them relative to thesupport and therebysegregate them into two, groups'tr'av- 'ersing different tracks, ,means for. movin the their respective needles-into 'knitting position;

means for-rotating the needle bed to move-the; I

" members relative to the support and to the defmembers engage, a device, operable to strike and vice, and means for controlling the operation r of the device including a pattern and means for. scanning the pattern. r 11. In a textile machine, the combination of a plurality of actuator members arranged in a circular series, a plurality of selector 'members arranged in a circular series, one selector member lying beneath each actuator member, and I said selector members having pointed lower ends,

a support for the actuator members having a pair of tracks in which said ends are received, an

electromagnetically-operated device operable to engage and shift selector members on the suptheir associated actuator members, said actuator bers of one group and moving them to engage and shift their associated actuator members, and

, means for moving the selectormembers relative to the device, the support, and the moving means.

12. In a textile machine, a plurality of selector members having pointed portions and operating portions adjacent thereto,. a support having a pair of connected tracks within one or the other of which said pointed portions are' received, an electromagnetically operated device including a hammer operable to strike selected members and shift said members relative to the support, thereby segregating the members into two groups having pointed portions in different tracks, cam means on the support engageable with the operating portions of members or one group to move the members, and means for movingthe membersv relative to the support, the device, and the cam means.

13. In a textile machine, the combination of a plurality of selector members having pointed lower ends and operating portions adjacent thereto, a support having a pair of connected tracks in which the said ends are received, cam surfaces adjacent the tracks and engageable with said operating portions, the surfaces permitting the membersto rest on their points at the connection between the tracks, a device at the conmembers in their movement altering the Operation of said actuating means, means for producing a relative movement oi the device and selector members, during which, they ar successively in cooperative relation with the device, and means for controlling the operation 01' the device including a pattern and scanning means therefor.

16. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed, a plurality of needles mounted on said bed in a circular series, an actuator member for each needle, a selector member for each needle, said members and needles lying in alignment with associated members normally out of contact with one another, a support for the actuator members, a support for the selector members, a device operable to engage and shift selector members relative to the support and thereby segregate them into two. groups, cam means engageable with the selector members of one group to cause them to engage their associated actuator members and move said members and associated needles, means for producing rela- 'tive movements of the selector members, device,

nection for shifting members from one track to the other and thereby segregating the members into two groups, the cam means effecting a substantial movement of the members of one 01 the groups, and means for effecting relative movements oi the members and support, during which the ends traverse the tracks, and of the members and cam means, whereby the members of one group are shifted by the cam means.

14. In a textile-machine, the combination oi.a plurality of selector members arranged ina circular series, the members having pointed lower ends and operating portions adjacent thereto, a support having a pair .ot connected tracks in which the pointed ends of the members are received, surfaces on the support engageable with the operating portions of the members, said surfaces permitting the members to rest on their points at the connection between the tracks 'and' elsewhere engaging the operating portions and raising the members, a device at the connection between the tracks for engaging and shifting members and thereby segregating the members into two groups traversing difierent tracks, cam means for raising the membersof one group, and means for moving the members around the support to present all the members successively to the device and the members of one group successively to'the cam means.

15. In a circular knitting machine havinga plurality or needles and-actuating means therefor, the combination 0! a plurality of actuator members arranged in circular series, a support for said actuator members, a plurality of selector members arranged in a circular series, each inalignment with one of said actuator members, a support for said selector members, said selector members being normally out 01' contact with their.

associated actuator members, a device acting on the selector members to shift them relative to the support and segregate them into two groups,

and cam means, during which the members and device are successively in cooperative relation, and the members of one group and the cam means are successively'in cooperative relation, and means for controlling the action of said device including a pattern and scanning means therefor.

17. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a plurality of needles arranged in a circular series, a circular needle bed, a plurality of needles mounted thereon in radial position, a

plurality of selector members disposed within the group of needles, a support for the selector members, a device engaging and shifting members relative to the support to segregate them into two groups, means acting on the members of one group to cause them to engage and advance corresponding needles to knitting position, means for producing relative movement or the members and device, during which the members and-device come successively into cooperative relation,

and means for controlling the operation or said device including a pattern and means for scanning the pattern.

18. In a circuiar knitting machine, the combination of a circular needle bed, a plurality of needles mounted thereon radially, and means for advancing selected needles to knitting position, including a support having a pair or tracks, a plurality of selector members mounted on the support and having portions engageable with the tracks, a device for engaging members and shifting them to segregate them into two groups traversing diflerent tracks, the shifted members engaging corresponding needles and advancing them to knitting position, means for moving the members relative to the device, and means for operating the device including a pattern and means for scanning the pattern.

19. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a circular needle bed, a plurality of needles mounted thereon radially, and means for advancing 'selectiveneedles to knitting position, including a suppor having a, pair of tracks, a

plurality or selector members mounted on the.

support and having lugs receivable in the tracks, an electro-mechanical translating device for en- 4 gaging members-and-shlffl a them to segregate them into two groups traversing diflerent tracks,

means acting on thelselector members at one the shifted members engaging corresponding group to cause them to engage and. move with needles and advancing them to knitting position,

tracks, a selectively means for moving the member relative to the device,-a nd means for operating the devilceincluding a pattern and means for scanning the pattern.

- 20. In a textile machine having a plurality of elements to be controlled, the combination of a support having a pair of tracks thereon, said tracks having opposed' side walls, a plurality of selector members having portions traversing the tracks and continuously confined against lateral movement by at least one of said walls, selectively operating means moving members relative to the support and segregating them into two groups traversing diflerent tracks, means for moving the members traversing one track to render them efiective toac't on corresponding elements and thereafter moving them to ineffective position, means for moving the members of the second group to render them effective to act on corresponding elements, means for combining the members into a single group to be acted on again by the selectively operated means, and means for producing a relative movement of the selector members, the selectively operating means, and the several moving means to cause the members to be acted on successively.

21. In a circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles to be controlled, the combination of a circular support having a. plurality of tracks, a plurality of selector members carried by the support and having portions engaging the tracks, a device for moving member relative to the support and segregatingthem into two groups traversing different tracks, cam means on the support moving the members of one group to render them eilective to advance corresponding needles toknitting position and thereafter moving said members to ineffective position, a second device for moving the members of the other group relative to the support and segregating them into two sub-groups traversing diflzerent tracks, cam means on the support for moving the members of one sub-group to render them eflective to advance corresponding needles to knitting position and thereafter rendering said members inefiective, cam means on the support for moving the members of the second sub-group to render them efiective to advance corresponding needles into knitting position, means for acting on all the members to combine them into a single group to be acted on again by the first device,

means for moving the members along the support to be acted on by'the devices and cam means, and individual means for controlling the action otthe devices, each means including a pattern and scanning means therefor.

22. In a circular knitting machine-having a plurality of needles to be controlled, the combination of a circular support having a plurality of tracks, a plurality of selector members resting on the support and having portions engaging the operating device for moving the members relative to the support and segregating them into two groups, the portions of which traverse diiferent tracks, cam means for raising the members of one group to'render them effective to act on corresponding needles and thereafter moving them'to ineflective position, asecond selectively operating device for moving members of the other group and segregating them into two sub-groups, cam means for raising the members of one sub-group to render them en'ecfive to advance corresponding needles into knitting position'and thereafter moving them to ineffective position, cam means for raising the members of the other sub-group to render them effective to advance corresponding needles into knitting position, means Iorcombining all the members into a single group to be acted on again by the first device, and individual means for controlling the operation of said devices, each means including a pattern and means for scanning the pattern.

23. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a needle bed, a plurality ot'needles mounted thereon in a circular series, means for advancing the needles into knitting position, and means for controlling. the operation of the advancing means including a plurality of selector members arranged ina circular series, a support for the members having a pair of tracks which portions of the members engage, means for movto move the jacks and advance their corresponding needles into knitting position, of a control mechanism comprising a. plurality of selector members arranged in a circular series, a support for the members, means for advancing the members along a circular path, means operable to ensage and shift members relative to the support and thereby segregate them into two groups, the members of one group acting on the jacks of corresponding needles, as said members are advanced, and thereby determining the action of the cam on said jacks, and means for controlling the operation of said engaging and shifting means including a pattern and scanningmeans therefor.

25? In a circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles to be controlled, said needles lying in a horizontal circular series, the combina, tion of a support, a plurality of selector members carried thereby, means for advancing the selector members along the support, a device operating selectively to move said members relative to the support and segregate them into two groups, means for operating the device including a pattern and means for scanning the pattern, andmeans operating on the selector members of one group to cause them to act on needles and cause such needles to take part in the knitting opera tion.

26. In a circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles to be controlled, said needles lying in a circular series in a plane, the combination of a plurality of selector members, arranged in a circular series, an electromagnetically operated device for selectively engaging and shifting selector members, means for supplying current to the device under the control of a pattern, and means engaging the selected members and moving them and needles associated with them to advance the needles to knitting position.

27. In a circular knitting machine having a plurality of needles to be controlled, said needles lying in a circular series in a plane, the combinaated withrespective needles, electromagnetically operatedhammer for engaging and shifting and means engaging shifted members and caus.

ing their movement with their associated needles during which the needles advance to knitting position; v y

28. In a circular knitting-machine having a plurality of needles, to be controlled, said needles lying in a circular series in a plane, the combination of a plurality of selector members, arranged selector members, means for supplying'current to the hammer under the control of a'pattern,

associated lacks mounted in slots in-the 'suriace -01 the cylinder, .a rotary support adjacent the periphery of the cylinder, a plurality of selector members mounted in longitudinal slots in 'the surface of the support andmovable to diflerent in a circular series, the selector members being movable to diflferent positions and being associated with respective needles, means 'for' moving.

the members along a circular path, an-ele'ctromagnetically operated hammer tor selectively engaging and shifting selector members during their movement, means for supplying current to the hammer under the control of a pattern, and cam means acting on the shifted members during their circular movement and causing a movement of said members andtheir associatedneedles during which the needles advance to knitting position.

29. In a circular knitting machine, the combination of a rotary needle cylinder, needles. and

associated jacks mounted therein, a rotary support adjacent the periphery of the cylinder, a plurality of selector members mounted on the support and movable thereon to different positions, in one of which they engage, and shift the needle Jacks as the support rotates, and thereby segregate said needle jacks into'two groups, cam

means for moving the jacks of one of said groups as the needle cylinder rotates, and a pattern-' controlled. electromagnetically operated device acting to engage and positively move selected members in the support during the rotation of the latter.

30. In a circular knitting machine, the compositions in' said slots,each member in one of said positions being operable to engage and shift a needle jack as the support rotates, said members segregating the needle jacks into two groups, cam means for moving the jacks of one oi'said groups as the needle cylinder rotates, and a pattern-controlled electromagnetically operated hammer acting to engage and positively move 1 selected members in the'supportduring the rorotates, said. members segregating the needle jacks into two groups, cam means'for moving the jacks 01' one of said groups as the needle cylinder rotates, a pattern controlled electro'magnetically operated hammer acting to engage and positively move selected members in the support during the rotation of the latter to segregate the members into two groups, and cam means acting on the members of one group and causing them to move into a position in which they engage needle jacks.

.33. -In a textile machine having a plurality of elements tobe controlled and actuating means. therefor, the combination of a plurality of selector members, a plurality of actuator members bination of a rotary needle cylinder, needles and associated jacks mounted in slots in the surface oi the cylinder, a rotary support adjacent the periphery of the cylinder, a plurality of selector members mounted on the support and movable thereon to different positions, each member in one of said positions being. operable to engage and positively shift a needle Jack as the support rotates, .said ,members. segregating the needle- Jacks into two groups, cam means for moving the jacks of one of said groups as the needle cylinder rotates, an electromagnetically operated hammer acting to engage-and positively move selected members on the support during. the rotation of the latter, and means for supplying current to the hammer under the control of a pattern.

each aligned with a selector member, a support lot the actuator members,a separate support for the selector members, the associated members being normally out of contact with one another, an electromagnetically operated device including a hammer operable to strike and shiftselecte'd selector members relative to their support, thereby segregating said selector members into two groups, means engageable with the selector members making up one group and moving said members against and with their associated actuator members, said actuator members in theirmovement altering the operation of said actuating means, and means for producing a relative movement of the selector members and device, and at the members and said movingmeans. I

WILLIAM s'. TANDLER.

1 1 31. In a circular knitting machine, the com-j 'bination of a-rotary needle cylinder, needles and. 

